Today, Marc Scott Zicree related the description of story theory I’ve ever heard: “You start with a character with a problem. You continually throw shit at him in Act Two, until he is in the deepest shit possible.
“If it’s a tragedy, he doesn’t escape it.
“If it’s a happy ending, he or she figures out their problems and succeeds. That’s it.”
Were you looking for something more complicated?
Just read this post about Elizabeth Knox and her unhappy experience with the movie adaptation process. Here’s the article:
Author cried over film of Vintner’s Luck
I don’t want to address the merits of Ms. Knox’s story as I think it’s irrelevant to my point here. My point is: it’s time for the role of a screenwriter to come to an end.
MakingOf.com has an interview with John August about his screenwriting process. As always, John August demonstrates his knowledge of the craft by breaking down concepts into relatable terms, and sharing really original insight into the craft — no respun Syd Field here.
Normally I’d embed the video here, but MakingOf.com has some weird Iframe code going on, so I’m just providing the link.
John August on Breaking Storytelling Conventions
And, as a screenwriter, you should already be a regular visitor to JohnAugust.com.
A few weeks back, J.C. Hutchins invited me to come on his program “Hey Everybody!” to talk about our collaboration on Disconnect, the nature of storytelling, and the process of making a low-budget film.
It runs about 45 minutes long, and is one of the more in-depth discussions I’ve ever recorded about these topics. If you’re a filmmaker or know one, it’s worth a listen.
While you’re at it, consider picking up a copy of J.C. Hutchins’ Personal Effects: Dark Art. This isn’t a paid endorsement, but I think as a storyteller it’s important to keep up with where the craft is going, and what J.C. is doing with Personal Effects is close to revolutionary. It’s worth your time, if only for a master class in storytelling.
It’s a commonly-held bit of wisdom that if you want to become a better screenwriter, you need to read a lot of screenplays.
Well, Don Boose over at Simply Scripts.com has made that pursuit a whole lot easier. Simply Scripts.com has compiled the WGA’s Top 101 Screenplays with links to nearly all of them (some with multiple drafts available). The list is a comprehensive blend of great writing from the last hundred years: Pulp Fiction stands shoulder-to-shoulder wth North-by-Northwest and Dr. Strangelove.
So get over there and start reading. There’s no better place to learn than the footsteps of the masters.
Some interesting facts…
Earlier this evening I was part of the Dead Robots’ Society roundtable discussion on adapting prose to the screen. Along with me were top-tier storytellers Matt Wallace and Patrick McLean.
Questions came both from the terrific hosts (PG Holyfield, Justin Macumber, Terry Mixon, and Ryan Stevenson) as well as the audience questions I had mentioned before.
The interview ranges from lessons learned in the world of commercials and advertising, the challenges in switching from prose to screenwriting, and what it takes to preserve a good story from the page to the screen.
You get a chance to get to know the hosts in the beginning, the actual interview begins around 15:20 in. You get to hear me at my most silly, so take it while you can get it.
For the original Dead Robot Society show notes, click here.
Letters from fake people with real problems.
Dear Earl,
My biggest challenge is getting started. I know I have the talent, but
- I just can’t start start this script OR
- I just can’t finish this script OR
- The script tries to bite me when I touch it.
Signed,
Almost Everyone In the World
There’s no shame here, Everyone. This is a completely natural part of the process. Here’s what you have to do.
As Episode 05: Disconnect circulates through the Internet and we wrap up Singularity 2009 (Did I say Balticon?), I’m setting my sights on the next episode for Stranger Things.
I did an impromptu Twitterpoll and the audience voted overwhelmingly for Mur Lafferty’s time-travel/mystery/romance piece “I Look Forward to Remembering You.”
I originally heard the story on episode 61 of Escape Pod, and knew even then that it was something I wanted to do.
This week I’m going to download Escape Pod #61, reacquaint myself with Mur’s story, and begin the adaptation process.
I’ll be posting updates here and on Twitter as I work through the script. Post your thoughts about the story and what it means to you. I’ll be referring back to these comments as I construct the screenplay, and eventually, the movie.
2008 was a good year for me, professionally and personally. It was a hard year, financially, though I had it easier than most.
For those who missed it (and sometimes I count myself among them), here’s the recap of 2008.
INT. EARL NEWTON’S LUXURIOUS ONE-BEDROOM FLAT
The single light from a MacBook Pro casts noirish shadows along the wall, opposite an expansive view of the diamond-encrusted city.
EARL NEWTON, a large man, handsome, with sharp lines on his face and a high widow’s peak, clicks-and-drags on the Mac. His eyeline is solid, confident. Focused.
EARL NEWTON
(V.O.)
Technology. When my parents grew up, a calculator weighed ten pounds and cost a thousand dollars. Now you get one free with a box of Fruity Pebbles. Now I shuffle digital bits around the world like a Vegas dealer and bemoan the lag as ten times the information in the Library at Alexandria dribbles into my system in the form of a high-definition copy of “Zombie Strippers.”
Newton clicks again.
CUT TO:
THE SCREEN
as it displays “SCRIPPETS PLUG-IN ACTIVATED”. Newton SMILES, sharp shadows carved into a blue-lit face.
EARL NEWTON
(V.O.)
It’s good to be the king.
The WP-Scrippets plugin has now been installed. Now I (and you, in the comments section) can write pieces of script, in proper formatting, directly on the website. Read here for instructions on how to use it.
This plug-in is the result of a collaboration between John August and Nima Yousefi.
UPDATE:
This plug-in works, but isn’t quite perfect yet on the iPhone. I’ll fiddle with it later, when I don’t have scripts due. Like, in August.
adaptation apple creativity disconnect editing interview j.c. hutchins layman group marketing matt wallace mevio mur lafferty p.g. holyfield patrick mclean pure love real problems from fake people rejection sci-fi scott sigler screenwriting script secret project storytelling Stranger Things twitter
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